Is an Educational Pod Right for Your Family?

Distance learning for the new school year is already much better than it was in the spring. Schools are more prepared and have mandated that teachers do live online lessons.

But, for a variety of reasons, some parents are choosing to form learning (pandemic) pods. Learning pods are created by families who want alternative educational experiences for their children. The children work with other children and a teacher in person. Even though the focus of learning pods is on academics, there should also be socializing and time for physical activity. Some parents, such as Kelly Soriano from Seaside, sees the most significant benefit of learning pods to be the social interaction her son gets. Another advantage of having a learning pod is that it allows parents to continue to work outside of the home or to have time available for younger children and chores.

Most learning pods include three to five children. With each child you add to the learning pod, the odds of introducing COVID-19 increases. From an educational and a social perspective, four to five students seems to be the ideal number for teaching and learning in small groups.

If you are thinking of joining a learning pod, there are two big questions you must answer first. What is the focus of the learning pod and who will be teaching? There are two options we are seeing for learning pods. The first method is that the learning pod teacher or facilitator helps and supports the children with schoolwork received from their public or private schools. Another approach is to hire a credentialed teacher to develop curricula for the children. The teacher would cover the same information that a classroom teacher is doing, but could personalize the instruction to your children’s needs.

Once you have decided what the learning pod’s goal is, you will need to figure out who is going to lead the pod. There are three main options for who is going to facilitate the pod: a credentialed teacher, someone else that you pay, or the parents. The most expensive option is the credentialed teacher because they will expect a salary commensurate with their salary as a teacher. A less costly option is hiring someone who is not a teacher such as a college student or recent college graduate. A final, nocost option is to have a co-op with parents in which the parents take turns running the pods.

After deciding who will teach, it’s time to choose your podmates. Think about your friends and neighbors who you would feel comfortable working with. If you have family or friends with children approximately the same age, you may choose to form your pod with them. If not, parents are pairing up through social media (check the Monterey Bay Parent group on Facebook).

It’s vitally important to start the discussion with potential pod families by asking how much social interaction they have day-to-day. You all need to be on the same page about what is acceptable contact. You will be trusting your health to the other families and it’s imperative that you trust them.

Another consideration is where the pod will meet. You’ll need a large space where the kids can be at least 6 feet apart with good ventilation, easy access to a bathroom, and surfaces that can be cleaned easily and frequently. You will also need to decide if you will require your teacher and students to wear masks. Finally, how will you handle health checks and what will you do if one member has symptoms or has an ill family member.

An alternative to learning pods that offers a similar experience is to join a learning group. Three options are The Mindful Scholars Academy, Carmel, Rising Stars Gymnastics Center, Monterey, both opening September 1 and Monterey Bay Educational Center. All offer opportunities for supervised learning, socialization, and special activities.

Obviously, interacting with people outside of your family increases your risk of Coronavirus exposure. For families who feel the benefits of social interaction or for those who work outside of the home, a pod can be an answer to a difficult problem. Ultimately, each family must weigh the risks against the benefits to decide if learning pods are right for their family.

Michelle Mason, founder and director of Mason Educational Mentoring, has a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, an M.A. in Special Education. Dr. Mason has over a decade of experience working as a teacher, educational therapist, and a university professor.